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Cops Probe How Scammers Got Details Of Victims

KUALA LUMPUR – When police raided the apartments that a Macau scam syndicate was operating from, they found a list of some 10,000 names as well as their contact numbers, age, addresses and even IC details.

There was also a book with a script for the scammers to respond with when questioned.

Authorities are now investi-gating how the scammers got hold of the list.

It is believed that the syndicate was targeting senior citizens as they were more gullible, leading to some RM3mil in losses and 44 police reports.

City police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim told reporters that the raids at the apartments in Bukit Jalil, Puchong, Sri Petaling and Kelana Jaya on March 16 were made following a report lodged by one of the victims three days earlier.

The woman, a 54-year-old manager, had been duped of RM30,000 after she was told by a “police inspector” to transfer money into an account following a call over credit card charges.

“The special operation led to a series of seizures and the arrests of 14 people. All of the suspects were found to be locals.

“One of the suspects has expertise in IT. Another is wanted for a murder case in Sungai Dua (Penang),” he told reporters at the police contingent headquarters here yesterday.

The syndicate, said Comm Maz­lan, was able to change their numbers to “official numbers” using a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) system.

The IT expert was the mastermind, he said, adding that those caught were aged between 17 and 36.

The Macau Scam involves its operators using VoIP technology to replicate the telephone number of genuine institutions, including the police and Bank Negara Malaysia, to cheat people. – The Star Online